At that time, Vanessa was at the hospital taking care of Mariah. Mariah suddenly stopped scrolling through her phone and looked at Vanessa, hesitating to speak.
“What’s wrong? If you have something to say, just say it directly,” Vanessa said, frowning.
Mariah didn’t know how to start, hinting, “Uh... Vanessa, why don’t you check your phone?”
It was only then that Vanessa noticed the content Mariah had shared with her. She read the entire message with a blank expression, but her heart was already in turmoil.
She had clearly sent Luca to check on things, and something might have happened between him and Cassandra, but why did she still feel upset?
Meanwhile, Luca had just arrived at the office when he noticed the strange looks from his employees. Feeling puzzled, he didn’t think much of it.
It wasn’t until his assistant had looked at him multiple times throughout the morning that Luca final
Luca felt a deep sense of guilt. As he watched Cassandra's career plummet, he could no longer sit idly by. He instructed his assistant, "Get everything ready; I'm going to hold a press conference later.""A press conference?" The assistant was puzzled, as there were no new products from the K Group to launch."Yes, to clarify some rumors about Cassandra."Understanding, the assistant set off to prepare for the press conference.However, somehow, this matter reached the ears of the board members, and they unanimously opposed Luca's suggestion."President, I think we shouldn't hold a press conference. This scandal has increased our visibility; if we leverage this hype well, it could be beneficial for K Group's future development.""Exactly, President. Although K Group is a big company, we still need recognition. This is free exposure for us."Hearing the words from below, Luca's frown deepened. "Enough. K Group does not need this kind o
Seeing this, Vanessa elaborated, "Mariah wanted to protect Leonardo, so she asked William to pretend to be her boyfriend. William might have liked Mariah before, but now he has someone else he likes."Before Cassandra could feel happy about the first part of that statement, her mood plummeted at the latter half.Vanessa didn’t notice the change and continued, "However, they’ve changed their minds again. After your incident, William and Mariah don’t plan to pretend to be a couple anymore."The thought that her situation had influenced William’s decision made Cassandra feel a flutter of excitement, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he cared about her.But if they weren’t pretending to be a couple, what would happen to Leonardo?Cassandra voiced her concerns, and Vanessa reassured her, "You’re barely holding it together; why worry about others? Don’t worry, everything is fine with Leonardo. He’ll
A day had passed, but the overnight scandal involving Cassandra and Luca showed no signs of dying down. Instead, the uproar online grew louder.An anonymous user even dug up old photos of Cassandra and Luca together, claiming the two had known each other for a long time. Some netizens fixated on Cassandra’s expressions in the pictures, saying that she had admired Luca back then, with her eyes full of affection for him. This, they argued, only proved the accusations of her having ulterior motives.Under these posts, the comments were filled with sarcasm and insults directed at Cassandra.Some users even went to the social media pages of brands still working with Cassandra, threatening to boycott their products unless they canceled her endorsement deals, putting enormous pressure on the companies.At this point, Cassandra was practically trapped at home. Her agent, Nicole, ordered her to stay off the internet and avoid reading the posts and comments.
Ever since William met Cassandra, he feared rumors would surface that could harm her reputation, so he didn’t stay at her house that night.Even though he left, William couldn’t stop worrying about her. Despite repeatedly reminding Cassandra not to open the entertainment news sections or care about the hateful comments, the barrage of insults still infuriated him. He couldn’t bear the thought of Cassandra reading those words and feeling hurt.William knew that he was already deeply involved, but he accepted it willingly.Determined to help her get through the storm, William devised a plan—to confess his feelings as soon as possible. He believed that if they were together, it would give her the strength to leave the scandal behind.A confession was something a man had to take the lead on, and William had made up his mind. But uncertainty gnawed at him—what if Cassandra didn’t feel the same? This thought
Vanessa posed as a wealthy investor and contacted the founder of the public account through its backend, claiming she was interested in investing in the platform and requesting a meeting.The public account was still in its early stages. Although it had gained a modest following, it wasn’t influential enough yet. Being approached by a potential investor left the founder both surprised and excited, and he immediately agreed to the proposal.Seeing the red dot notification pop up on her chat box, Vanessa smiled—her prey had taken the bait. After adding him as a friend, she wasted no time and called him directly. The man answered within seconds: “Hello? Is this Ms. Saxon?”“Yes, it is,” Vanessa replied calmly.“I heard… uh, that you’re interested in investing in our account?” The man’s excitement was clear in his voice.Vanessa remained silent for a moment.
“Grandpa, I know everything. But haven’t I already been dismissed?” Luca’s calm voice came through the receiver, and the old man could detect a hint of grievance in his tone. Clearing his throat, the old man replied solemnly, “Luca, this situation has come up unexpectedly. I plan to personally go to the company, and I’d like you to come with me.” After a moment of silence, Luca refused, “Grandpa, I think I’ll pass. It’s rare for me to have a break, and I’d like to rest a bit more.” Hearing this, the old man sighed. “Alright then, I won’t force you.” He understood that Luca’s reluctance to return to the company was likely due to Vanessa. It was a rare opportunity for Luca to spend time with her, and he didn’t want anyone to interfere. Besides, going to the company now might not be very useful anyway. Beatriz was no
Mariah also felt the oppressive atmosphere in the car and shifted restlessly, moving closer to Leonardo to create some distance from the manager. The manager immediately frowned and sneered, “I didn’t expect Miss Hutchson to be this kind of person. Last time at the hospital, you promised me you would keep your distance from Leonardo. How is it that just a few days later, you can’t help yourself? Let me tell you, don’t think these tricks can fool everyone; I’ve seen many seduction tactics like yours.” Mariah's expression instantly turned cold, and she was clearly displeased. However, due to the manager’s status, she suppressed her anger and tried to explain patiently, “You’ve really misunderstood; I absolutely don’t mean that.” The manager curled his lip, not believing Mariah’s words. Leonardo also became a bit unhappy; he had initiated this meeting, so why wa
After Mariah left, she didn’t go straight home. Feeling unsettled, she wandered the empty streets alone, letting the evening breeze cool her frustration.Looking at the desolate street, Mariah felt an even deeper emptiness inside her. She had thought that Leonardo at least had some feelings for her, but now it seemed that, despite their mutual attraction, it wouldn’t lead anywhere. There were too many barriers between them, and just the unspoken rule that celebrities couldn’t date was enough to crush any tender hopes she held.Lost in thought, she didn’t notice a drunken man stumble out of a nearby alley, heading straight toward her.Without warning, he bumped into her, sending her crashing to the ground.Seeing this, he lunged at her. Luckily, Mariah had learned a few self-defense moves and managed to dodge him. But the drunk man was relentless and con
Magnus reached out and gently wiped the tears from her face, his voice hoarse. “My Grandpa believed you were the one who set the fire that killed Matthias. He wouldn’t pass up any chance to take revenge on you. If I hadn’t done what I did, your life would have been in danger.”“Sis, brother-in-law didn’t mean to deceive you. Please forgive him.” Tobias pleaded anxiously.“You bad daddy! You made Mommy cry! I hate you!” Maxime angrily raised his little arm and shoved him away before hugging Senna tightly, speaking in an old-fashioned tone, “Mommy, don’t cry. Maxime loves you the most.”Looking at his own son standing like a wall between them, Magnus’s temple twitched violently. He barely resisted the urge to throw the little brat out.“Maxime, kids shouldn’t interrupt when adults are talking. Let me talk to your daddy, okay?” Senna stroked his head, her mind overflowing
It was unclear how much time had passed when a beautiful melody drifted into Senna’s ears. This song…“Sis, don’t sleep anymore. Please wake up, okay? I miss you so much. Sis, it’s been so long since you sang me to sleep. Do you still remember this song? You used to sing it to me all the time. Please wake up, sis. I’m so worried about you.”The familiar voice echoed in her ears—it was Tobias’s voice. Could it be… that she had died and met Tobias in heaven?“Sis, wake up! Open your eyes and look at me! It’s me, Tobias. How could you be so cruel and leave me behind?”Tobias’s voice grew increasingly sorrowful, choked with tears. Big, warm drops of his tears landed on Senna’s face.“Tobias…” It really was his voice. Senna’s eyes flew open, and the moment she saw that familiar little face so close to hers, tears gushed uncontrollably dow
But, the butler warning came too late. The sharp blade plunged mercilessly into the old master’s abdomen."You old bastard," Astrid sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "Three years ago, you promised me that if I got rid of Senna, I would marry into the Voss family as the young madam. But you went back on your word—I tolerated it. And now, when Magnus’s people are hunting me down, you want to cut ties with me? Since I’m doomed anyway, I’ll take you down with me. HAHAHA!""Old Master!"Blood spurted out as Astrid pulled out the knife. The butler’s face turned ashen with terror. Without hesitation, he raised his gun.Bang!The gunshot rang out.Astrid’s crazed laughter was abruptly silenced. A bullet pierced her forehead. Her wide, crazed eyes froze in place as her body collapsed to the ground, lifeless, her expression frozen in disbelief."Old Master, are you alright? Someone call for help!
Daring to commit violence in Rosewood Manor, Astrid had already prepared to risk everything. After escaping, she headed straight to Voss Manor—because at this point, the only person in the world who could protect her was the old man.Inside Voss Manor, the old man was studying a chess board, frowning as he realized he had backed himself into a dead end. He sighed softly. “Fated.”“Master.” The butler entered with Astrid.Disheveled and panicked, Astrid collapsed to her knees in front of the old man, sobbing. “Grandpa, I did as you wanted! This time, Senna is surely dead! I helped you get rid of her! But Magnus won’t let me go—he’ll kill me, he’ll tear me apart! Grandpa, what do I do now?”The old man frowned, glaring at the butler in displeasure. “Can’t you see I’m busy? Why bring her here? Get rid of her.” To him, she wasn’t even worth as much as a dog.
Magnus’s gaze lowered slightly. He wasn’t wrong.After the car accident, his legs had been injured, but not to the extent of being crippled. He had faked it deliberately—to make the old man feel guilty, to show him what it was like to lose control.He was the eldest grandson of the Voss family. His father had died young, caught in a revenge killing. His mother, unable to bear the loss, chose to end her life by jumping into the sea, leaving him behind. Devastated, the old man pinned all his hopes on Magnus, raising him with an iron hand, demanding perfection. And he delivered, becoming the ideal heir—until Senna appeared.Senna’s mother had been divorced by the Thorne family for alleged infidelity. A daughter born of such a woman was nothing but a disgrace in the old man’s eyes. He couldn’t tolerate her ruining the successor he had spent decades grooming. And when Matthias died, it became the spark that ignited the traged
Before Magnus could turn around, a brutal punch slammed into his face, sending him staggering back two steps. He grunted in pain and was about to retaliate when a small head peeked out from behind him.A pair of large, round, jet-black eyes blinked at him, filled with curiosity. The chubby little face scrunched up in confusion before a childish voice spoke, "Huh? Uncle... He looks just like my dad..."Magnus's raised fist froze mid-air.His gaze locked onto the little boy, who was the spitting image of himself as a child. He was too stunned to speak."That's right! He’s the bad dad who nearly got you killed, and now he's hurting your mom! Because of him, you’re about to lose your mother!"With seething anger, Caius pulled the child forward, pointing at Magnus in accusation."I'm losing my mom?"The little boy repeated the words twice as if trying to process them. Then, his face suddenly changed.Panic-stricken, he b
The venomous voice sent a shiver down Senna’s spine. She was about to jump off the swing when a sudden, forceful push sent her flying forward. She let out a startled scream as she crashed to the ground.Just as she struggled to get up, a sharp, searing pain stabbed through her abdomen. Her face instantly turned deathly pale."You should’ve died three years ago! Why are you still alive?" Astrid sneered, dressed as a maid to sneak in. She gripped a wooden stick, her face twisted with hatred. "If it weren’t for you, I would be an award-winning actress by now. My endorsements would be endless! You ruined my career—was that not enough? Why did you have to ruin my marriage too?"As she raised the stick, she suddenly caught a whiff of something metallic—blood. Looking down, she saw crimson liquid trailing down Senna’s leg. She froze for a second before her fury erupted."You wretched woman… you're pregnant again?!"
After returning from the old master's place, Astrid spent the entire night unable to sleep. She couldn't believe she had been deceived—no, she refused to believe it was true. Magnus was so wealthy; why would he bother scheming for her shares? Compared to his vast fortune, her shares were insignificant, a mere drop in the ocean.The next morning, she rushed to the headquarters of Voss Group. Everyone in the company assumed she was the future president’s wife, so no one dared to stop her.She barged straight into Magnus’s office, watching as he reviewed and signed documents. Taking out her compact mirror, she carefully touched up her weary face, ensuring there were no flaws before putting on a bright smile and knocking gently on the door.“Magnus.”Magnus glanced at her. Despite her meticulously refined appearance, he still found her face utterly displeasing. His voice was cold, devoid of any warmth.&ldquo
The better Magnus treated her, the more terrified Senna became. His enigmatic behavior left her unable to grasp his true intentions. What was he plotting?Three years ago, how had he deceived her, stolen her heart and body, only to throw her into prison, kill her younger brother, and force her to drink that glass of abortion medicine? The pain and hatred he inflicted on her were like a brand, burned deep into her soul.No, she couldn’t waver. She had to avenge herself. In one week, he would meet his end.“Senna, I’m heading back to the company first. Once I finish my work, I’ll take you out for a walk.” Magnus reached out, gently brushing his fingers through her hair as he spoke in a low voice.Senna set down her spoon, her voice cold as ice. “I don’t want to go out.”“If you don’t want to, then we won’t. I’ll come back tonight and have dinner with you.” Magnus took her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a soft ki